The letter refers to HMS Cumberland and trainee pilot redundancies – this was how the RAF signatures were secured.
On the basis of recent events, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the alleged fortune telling of the SDSR may have been a little off. However, this letter does not make any better suggestions on what the future might hold or what we might need to meet it.
NEOs are part of normal contingency planning and I cannot think of one that would normally require a NFZ or serious combat power to affect it. That said, this one has got a bit messy, but that is through our own delays and incompetence rather than a lack of military capability.
Notably absent is any reference to Carriers or Harriers in the letter, only some of the journalists make an implied link (presumably fed their lines by the usual suspects).
This debate should now be moved to the “Libya NFZ” thread, rather than “axing Harriers is bonkers”.
A proper NFZ would have to be implemented by ac properly equipped to respond to a threat. One with eyes, legs and a long pole, not a blind jumping bean with a happy stick!
Last time these RN grandees made a claim for bringing back the carrier it was for the Falklands (they clearly didn’t see this coming either), maybe we should check to see just who these Libyan rebels are, could be the FAA in disguise
